We Try Shapewear With Built-In Calorie Burn

It seems like everything these days is built with added calorie-burn in mind. From flip-flops to sneakers to toning pants, it seems that all apparel is multitasking! I’m not one to enjoy wearing hose or Spanx-type products (hello, maternity clothes were my favorite!), but when ShaToBu’s Shapercise shapewear landed on my doorstep promising to instantly slim my lower body and give me an added calorie burn, I decided to take them out for a spin.

The shapewear is, first and foremost, tight. The pants took a bit of maneuvering to get on, but once it was in place, I did feel sucked in in all the right places. I’d been extremely skeptical about the “added calorie burn,” but after a quick walk around the house, I was a believer. It’s hard to describe, but the seamless resistance bands really do make you work a touch harder to walk to and fro, and while you shouldn’t use them as an excuse to indulge in that second piece of chocolate cake, I’m willing to believe the toning and calorie-burning benefits (as the company’s independent studies have also confirmed).

While Shapercise is made of moisture-wicking, breathable fabric to keep you cool and dry, I found that they kept me warmer than usual—as you’d imagine skin-tight, extra-calorie-burning clothes might. At about $30 a pop, they’re more affordable than some Spanx products I’ve seen, and an added bonus is that it comes with a pedometer. And as a new mom who is still a few pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight, I can see the practical application for wearing these under those pre-pregnancy clothes that still don’t fit just right. I had no shame in wearing these puppies around the house, and I was brave enough to ask my hubby for his opinion. When asked how they made my butt look, his response? “Your butt always looks good.” Smart man! —Erin